Brochure Creation For Dummies

As my chosen title suggests, this is an article intended to give marketing amateurs a simplified step-by-step process on how to come up with a brochure that might not be the most spectacular marketing piece anyone's ever come up with, but one that's effective enough to drive the point.

Brochures are commonly known as those folded pieces of paper stacked together on the front desk, in the lobby of a restaurant or hotel, or handed out during trade shows and storefronts. Simply put, brochures are very accessible to the public. The challenge, and also the goal we're going for, is how do you make a brochure effective enough so that it won't end up in the trash?

Let's break it down to small parts.

First off, what is the nature of your business and who is your target market?
With the awareness of who your target readers are, the next step would be to think of the possible questions your readers might have. Some examples would be: what services do they provide, how much is it, do they have a website, can I buy online, is it a walk-in type of store and so on. It is also best to arrange the answers in the same sequence your reader might be asking those questions.

Knowing who your target audience is will help you narrow down possible designs you could use for your brochure. For instance, if your target market is young people, you might want to do a bit of research on the latest design trends or concepts out there. As an example, I've noticed a lot of vector art designs lately (just think iPod). It is always good to incorporate a concept or identity onto your design that would set you apart from the rest. What about trying a different shape for a change? A different folding style perhaps? Use your creativity and imagination. A different paper stock? Most